Knuckle joint



June 2, 1942. F, L, LE Bus n 2,285,213

KNUCKLE JOINT Filed July 30, 14941 l ATTORNEY Patented June 2,Y 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE KNUCKLE JOINT Franklin L. Le Bus, Longview, "lex. v Application July 30, 1941, Serial No. V404,737

9` Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fishing tools used in well drilling, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to an improvement on Patent No. 2,103,988, granted to George F. Le Bus,iDecember 28, 1937.

An important object of this inventionis to provide a hydraulic knuckle joint for actuating a fishing tool or the like, so that the tool may be ,movedto an angular position when lowered to the proper level in the well hole.

And still another object of-this invention is to provide fluid actuated pivotable means for use with iishing tools in wells in which'the amount of fluid pressure can be varied in order to regulate the amount of torque or turning moment necessary to move the pivotable means.

i And still another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic knuckle joint providing pivotable means for motivating a fishing tool or the like by iluid pressure so constructed and arranged to break any sharp flow of circulating uid and preclude washing out of the pivotable control means.

And still an additionalobject of this invention is to provide a hydraulic 'knuckle joint for moving fishing tools or the like into an angular position in enlarged bores of `a well hole which is simple in construction and 'capable of easy assembly and disassembly for cleaning, repairs and the like. f

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following vdetailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form of my invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of the knuckle joint showing it cooperating with a fragmentary iishingtool or the like.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the knuckle joint moved to an oblique or angular Referring tothe drawing in detail, reference character 2 discloses anV apertured collar or sub adapted to be connected by threads 4 to the lower end of a drill stem (not shown). It will be apj parent that a set of jars (not shown) could be interposed in the drill stem at this point, since the knucklejoint is so constructed to withstand any normal jarring effect when needed.4 VThe-collar 2 is threaded at B toxa cylindrical member 8 formingan upper housing for the knuckle elements. Disposed within the housing 8 below the collar 2 is a freely movable cylindrical piston I0.

.The upper portion of the piston is formed with break circulation ofthe iiuid Athrough the tool4 and prevent wash out of the pivot `control lever below the piston II). The inner periphery of the housing 8 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 24 formingshoulders 26 on which is disposed a cylindrical cage 28. anchored in the cage 28 and inturn supports a freely movable cam lever V32 capable of swinging on the arc of a circle-as will` be hereinafter exvA lower housing 34 is threaded at36 to the upper housing 8 and contains the knuckle joint proper.- The inner Iperiphery ofthe housing 34 is constructed with outwardly depending porgitions 38 forming a ball socket for receiving the The ball 40 is provided with upper proball 4B. jecting portion 42 having a cam surface 44 cooperating with the cam surface-46 of the cam In. addition to supporting the ball 4Q by `the socket 38, asupporting pin or stud 48 lever 32.

extends through the ,knucklejoint 4i) and isl anchored in diametrically opposite apertures (not. shown) provided in the nhousing 34. In thisv manner a double support is provided for the ball` 4Il and the pivot arm 42. .An elongated projection 50 extends below the ball 4I] and is provided at its lower ends with threads 52 for securing a connectingcollar or sub 54, which in turn is pro- .vided at its lower end with threads 56 for receiving a fishing tool 58 (shown fragmentarily). A set of washers 59 maybe interposed between the member 50 andcollar` 54 for adjusting the working side of the shing tool so that it may be on A the swinging side of the pivot arm, it being understood that these washers may be of irregular thicknesses to provide this adjustment. The

knuckle joint member is provided with a duct 60 with a reduced central portion 49 (see Fig.' 3) to The A cross pin 38 is allow passage of fluid therearound and through the duct 60.

Operation In operation the drill stem and fishing tool are lowered into the well to a point to contact the lost pipe and the drill stem is rotated slowly in order to ascertain if the lost pipe can be contacted without necessarily actuating the knuckle joint. In the event that the sh or lost pipe is in an enlarged bore of the well hole and cannot be contacted by normal disposition of the tool, circulation is then started from the mud pumps at the surface of a well (not shown) through the drill stem to where the mud and water strikes the top of piston it), plate i8 and stud I4. The size of the aperture 26 in stud lfi regulates the ow of fluid through the piston and determines the amount of fluid pressure against the top of the piston, thereby determining the amount of torque for cam lever 32. The passage of the uid from the pumps forces the piston Il) downward whereupon its lower surface, contacts the upper face of cam lever 32 to cause it to pivot about the stud 39. Pivotal movement of the cam 32 cooperates with the knuckle member 42 through the complementary surfaces 44 and 46 (according to Figs. l and 2) of the ball 43 and its cooperating members i), 513 and fishing tool 58. It will be noted that the inner periphery in the lowermost portion of housing 34 is cut away at 62 to allow free movementrof the eX- tension 50 to an oblique angular position.

Fig. 4 is a modification showing the arrangement of the upper portion of the piston where it is desired to wash down the well hole prior to actuating the knuckle joint and fishing tool. In this arrangement a modified stud 'l' is utilized providingr an enlarged bore 12 permitting free flow of fluid through the bore and into the wellhole for the preliminary wash down. The top of stud 1i! is recessed to act as a valve seat for receiving the oyindrical valve 14. The lower portion of the valve 14 is provided with a restricted aperture 76, and after the preliminary wash down operation the valve is dropped through the operating string into contact with the stud 1l) to provide circulation of the piston l as in the preferred embodiment, and allow for operation of the knuckle joint. The outside diameter of the valve 14 is of a diameter greater than the bore I2 upon which it seats, while the inside diameter is less than the bore 18 of the connecting sulo` 2 in order to admit fluid from the pumps (not shown) to the top of the piston l0. After operation of the knuckle joint the valve may be removed by means of a fishing spear on a wire line to provide for further wash downs if so desired.

Furthermore, the knuckle joint provides for the meansv in the actuating piston to interrupt or break any sharp ow of circulating fluid and prevent the possibility of the fluid washing out or destroying the pivotal means. Similarly, the arrangement and construction of the knuckle joint makes it capable of easy assembly and dis assembly 4for repairs and the like, as well as allows for free ow of uid circulation throughout the tool thereby keeping it clean, as well as provide circulation to the well hole and insure against cave-ins.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawing, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A knuckle joint for well fishing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing adapted to be moved by uid circulation, an apertured stud secured to the top of the piston to regulate the passage of fluid therethrough and determine the downward force of the piston, pivotal means responsive to the vertical downward movement of the piston for movement through an aro of a circle, and means disposed transversely of the piston adapted to retard fluid circulation and prevent washing out of the pivotal means.

2. A knuckle joint for well fishing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing adapted to be moved by fluid ciroulation, apertured means secured to the top of the piston for regulating the passage of uid therethrough and determine the downward force of the piston, pivotal cam means disposed in the housing below the piston, a ball pivotally disposed below the cam means and cooperating therewith, a shing tool secured to the ball, said cam means being responsive to movement of the piston to pivot the ball and move the fishing tool to an oblique position relative to the aXis of the well hole.

3. A knuckle joint for well shing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing adapted to be moved by uid circulation, apertured means secured to the top of the piston for regulating the passage of fluid there through and determine the downward force of the piston, pivotal cam means disposed in the housing below the piston, a ball pivotally disposed below the cam means and cooperating therewith, a shing tool secured to the ball, said cam means being responsive to movement of the piston to pivot the ball and move the shing tool to an oblique position relative to the axis of the well hole, and a pin disposed transversely of the piston adapted to retard fluid circulation and prevent washing out of the cam means.

4. A knuckle joint for well fishing tools com- A prising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing and adapted to be moved downward by fluid circulation, pivotal cam means disposed in the housing below the piston, a ball pivotally disposed below the cam means and cooperating Y therewith, said ball having a projection extending downwardly therefrom, said cam means being responsive to movement of the piston to pivot the ball and move the projection to an oblique position relative to the axis of the well bore, and means arranged in the piston to retard circulation of the fluid and prevent washing out of the cam means.

5. A knuckle joint for well fishing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing and adapted to be moved downward by fluid circulation,v pivotal cam means disposed in the housing :below the piston, a ball pivotally disposed below the cam.`means and cooperating means arranged in the top of the piston to regu'- l late thejow of iluid and determine the amount of torque for the cam means. y

6. A knuckle joint for well fishing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing and adapted to be moved downward by fluid circulation, pivotal cam means disposed in the housing belowthe piston, a ball pivotally disposed. below the cam means and cooperating therewith, said `ball having a projection extending downwardly therefrom, said cam means being responsive to movement ofthe piston to pivot the ball and move the projection to an oblique position relativelto the axis of the well bore, means arranged in the top of the piston to regulate the ilow of fluid and determine the amount of torque for the cam means, and a cross `pin arranged inthe piston to break sharp circulation ofthe uid and lprevent washing out ofthe cam means.

'7. A knuckle joint for Well shing tools cornprising a housing 'adapted to 'be secured to the lower end of a drill stem, ajpiston disposed in the housing `and adapted to be moved downward by l fluid circulatiom pivotal cam means disposed in the housing below the piston, a lowerv housing connected to the first mentioned housing and provided with a reduced diameter portion to form a socket, a ball disposed in the socket and adapted to pivot therein, a projection extending from the ball and having a cam surface adapted to contact the ,cam means, a second projection extending from the ball in a diametrically opposite direction and adapted to receive a fishing tool, said cam means being responsive to move-v ment of the piston to pivot the ball and move the second projection and tool tov an angled position relative to the axis Aof the Vwell bore, and means for providing iluid circulation below the tool. Y i

8; In a knuckle joint for well fishing tools comprising a housing adapted to be secured to the lower end of `'a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing adapted to be moved by fluid circulation, an apertured stud secured to the top of the piston to allow circulation through the joint for washing down the well bore, a valve member cooperating with the vstud to regulate the passage of fluid through the stud and determine the downward force on the piston, pivotal means responsive to the vertical downward movement oi the piston formovement through an arc of a f circle, and means pivotally disposed below the pivotal means and responsive to movement of the pivotal means to move the fishing tool to an oblique position relative to the axis of the well bore.`

' 9. A knuckle joint for Well shing tools com-` prising a housing adapted to be' secured to the lower end of a drill stem, a piston disposed in the housing adapted to be moved by fluid circulation,

means cooperating with the piston to regulate y the passage of fluid therethrough and determine the downward force of the piston, pivotal means responsive to vertical 'downward movement of.

the piston for movement'through an arc of a circle, and means disposed transversally of the piston adapted to retard iluid circulation and prevent Washing out of the Vpivotal means.

FRANKLIN L, LE BUS, Y 

